Interacting with embedded devices within a user&#39;s environment

ABSTRACT

An envoy device configured to perform a transaction with a further device. The envoy device comprises: a data store; a processor; communication circuitry for communicating with the further device; and a display. The envoy device is configured to respond to detection of the further device being within a predetermined physical proximity to trigger initiation of a transaction between the devices; and to respond to the transaction completing to display an object related to the transaction that it is determined the user may wish to select to initiate a subsequent action.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/987,648 filed Aug. 19, 2013, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates to data processing devices and in particularto devices that can interact with other local devices.

BACKGROUND

There are an increasing number of embedded devices in a user'senvironment and increasing opportunities to provide further embeddeddevices, however interacting with different devices where there aredifferent protocols and different ways of accessing the devices can becomplicated for a user and may discourage them from using such devices.

It would be desirable to provide a device that allowed a user tointeract with other local devices found within an environment in amanner which simplified the user's experience and conserved theirattention while maintaining security.

SUMMARY

A first aspect provides an envoy device configured to perform atransaction with a further device, said envoy device comprising:

a data store;

a processor;

communication circuitry for communicating with said further device; and

a display;

said envoy device being configured to respond to detection of saidfurther device being within a predetermined physical proximity totrigger initiation of a transaction between said devices; and

in response to said transaction completing to display an object relatedto said transaction that it is determined said user may wish to selectto initiate a subsequent action.

Providing a device that will automatically trigger a transaction inresponse to the device being close to another device with which it cancommunicate is a straightforward and secure way of allowing a user tointeract with devices in his environment. Furthermore, providing theuser with a displayed object that it is considered likely that they maywish to select to initiate a subsequent transaction once the previoustransaction has completed provides the user with a simple way ofinitiating further transaction and avoids the need for a user to pursuecomplex menus to do so. Furthermore, allowing the transaction tocomplete without requiring additional input from the user improves theease of use and the user experience. In effect a transaction istriggered and completes automatically simply by proximity of devices.

It should be noted that the device being within a predetermined physicalproximity, of the further device occurs when the envoy device is withincommunication range of the further device. This may occur by connectingto the further device or by a user touching the further device, or bybeing within communication range of certain communication circuitry, forexample near field communication circuitry within both devices.

The display of the at least one further option for a subsequenttransaction means that the further option(s) is easily available viathis automatic display. The option(s) displayed is the option that it isconsidered the user would be most likely to select following theprevious transaction.

It should be noted that an envoy device is any processing device withcommunication capability. Generally it is a portable device that can beconveniently carried or worn by a user, for example a watch, or a keyfob or some piece of jewelry.

In some embodiments, said envoy device is configured to respond todetection of said further device being within a predetermined physicalproximity and at least one further condition to trigger initiation of atransaction between said devices.

In some cases a further condition in addition to the physical proximitymay be required to trigger initiation of the transaction. This furthercondition may include the envoy device having of a permission relatingto the further device stored on it or the envoy device having a pendingintent to perform a transaction with the further device. A pendingintent is a transaction that is waiting to be performed or be completedwith said further device. When a communication is made between the twodevices recognition of these further conditions being met can bedetermined and the relevant transaction can be initiated.

In some embodiments, said envoy device is configured to display aplurality of related objects in response to a user operation.

Although the envoy device automatically displays an object relating tothe transaction that it is determined the user may wish to select oncompletion of the transaction it may be that this is not the object thatthe user is interested in but another related object which may be theobject that he requires. Thus, in some embodiments a simple useroperation will bring up a display of a plurality of related objects.This user operation may for example be scrolling on the originallyrelated objects such that a list of other related objects appears oneafter the other on the display.

In some embodiments, said envoy device is a portable device, and saiddisplay is configured to display fewer than 10 lines of text or 10icons.

The ability to automatically display a related object on completion ofthe transaction is particularly useful where the envoy device is aportable device and the display is therefore necessarily small, suchthat retrieval of relevant information may not be easy. For example,this display may be of a size such that it can display fewer than tenlines of text or ten icons or in some cases it may only be able todisplay fewer than five lines of text and in others it may just displaya single line of text or a single icon.

In some embodiments, said envoy device is configured to display saidrelated object for a predetermined time after completion of saidtransaction and then to revert to one of a default display and apreviously shown display.

Although the related object may be an object that the user wishes toselect following that transaction, in many cases the user may not wishto perform a subsequent transaction and for this reason, in some casesthe envoy devices configured to revert to a default display apredetermined time after completion of the transaction. In otherembodiments it may revert not to a default display but to the displaythat it was displaying prior to the transaction occurring. This may beuseful if the user was in the process of using the envoy device for adifferent purpose to the transaction that was triggered by the proximityof the further device. If this is the case the user may well wish toreturn to the previous display.

Although the envoy device may take a number of forms, in some cases itis configured to be worn by the user.

A convenient way of carrying a device is to wear. Furthermore, where thedevice is a secure device particular to that user, wearing the device isa secure and convenient way of ensuring that one has the device with onewhen required.

Although the envoy device can take a number of forms in some cases theenvoy devices are watches and display a time as said default display. Inthis regard, the time may just be the time of the day or it may includethe date.

In some embodiments, said envoy device is configured to detect saidpredetermined physical proximity of said further device in response tosaid user touching said further device.

Although the predetermined suitable proximity to the further device canbe detected in a number of ways, in some cases it is detected inresponse of the user touching a further device.

Where the envoy device is worn then a signal sent through the body is aconvenient way of detecting the further device, and as in many cases theuser will be touching the further device, this provides a way ofinitiating the communication link in cases where the intent of the useris clear.

In some embodiments, said transaction comprises use of a permissionstored within said envoy device, said displayed related object relatingto said permission.

Although the transaction can comprise a number of things in some casesthey comprise a user permission that is stored in the envoy device andin which case the displayed related object relates to that permission.Envoy devices may be used to securely store and carry permissions suchas keys to various locations.

In some embodiments, said envoy device comprises a clock, said envoydevice being configured to process permissions having a valid lifetimeand to determine when said permissions with said valid lifetime haveexpired in dependence upon a value of said clock.

In some cases permissions may be time dependent and may expire. It isconvenient if the envoy device has a clock such that it can determinewhen the permissions have expired and ensure that they are made invalid.

Although the permissions can take a number of forms, in some embodimentssaid permission comprises at least one of a travel ticket, a keyconfigured to provide access to a location, access to a thermostat,access to control of a power outlet and a representation of money.

Any sort of permission that allows access to a processing device oraccess to a service controlled by such a device can be stored on theenvoy device and used to gain such access in a straightforward, secureand user friendly manner.

In some embodiments, said permission comprises a key and said furtherdevice comprises a lock, said displayed related object comprising a setof keys stored within said device, said set of keys comprising said keyand further keys related to said key and having different accesspermissions.

A particular convenient use of the envoy device is as a key to unlock alock. In which case the related object that is displayed may comprise aset of keys that are stored within the device including the keys tounlock the lock and further keys that are related to that key but havedifferent access permissions. When accessing a room or a building it maybe that you wish to leave that lock unlocked for a while to allow otherpeople to enter, or you may wish to send the key to that lock to afriend. Thus, displaying related keys on the display of the envoy deviceallows easy access to these keys by the user in a straightforward andconvenient manner such that he can perform such a subsequent task ifdesired.

In some embodiments, at least one of said key and said further keys is acontrol key said control key being configured to perform at least oneof:

open said lock and to keep said lock open for a predetermined length oftime, and

open and access diagnostic features in a car.

One of the keys that can be accessed via the display followingcompletion of the transaction may be a control key which has particularfunctions such as leaving a lock open for a predetermined length of timeor allowing access to a particular thing such as diagnostic features ina car where the key is the maintenance key.

In some embodiments, said envoy device is configured to display a listof said most recently displayed related objects in response to a userselection.

Although, it is envisaged that the user may wish to select the displayedrelated object following completion of the transaction within apredetermined time, it may be that the user does not at this point wishto access that related object but later may determine that one of theprevious uses of the envoy device was relevant to what the user wishesto do now. In such a case, it is convenient if the user can access alist of the most recently displayed related objects following completionof the most recently performed transactions such that the relevant onecan be selected and used in a simple and straightforward manner.

As noted previously, detecting the predetermined physical proximity maybe done in a number of ways. For example, where the envoy device is wornit may be detected by the user touching the further device.Alternatively, where the communication circuitry is a near fieldcommunicator then it may be detected by establishing near fieldcommunication between the envoy device and the further device.

In other embodiments, it may be determined when the envoy device isbought within a predetermined distance of said further device, forexample within 5 cm of the further device.

In some embodiments, said envoy device is configured to detect saidpredetermined physical proximity with said further device in response todetecting said envoy device being moved in a predetermined patternwithin a predetermined distance of said further device.

The detection of a predetermined pattern of movement of the envoy devicealthough perhaps more complex than determining physical proximity, isless likely to be detected by accident in that a particular pattern ofmovement is unlikely to occur unless the user intends that pattern ofmovement to be performed and performs it deliberately. In this way, suchan envoy device will only react with a further device in response to auser's intention and as such, the actual physical proximity between thetwo devices may be sufficient to automatically trigger the initiation ofthe transaction without requiring any other further conditions.

Although the predetermined pattern may take a number of forms, in someembodiments said predetermined pattern comprises said envoy devicemoving towards and then away from said further device within apredetermined period of time, while in other embodiments saidpredetermined pattern comprises said envoy device being moved to aparticular orientation.

The predetermined pattern may be the pattern of the user “bumping” theenvoy device against the further device or it may be in the case thatthe envoy device is worn, for example, that the envoy device is moved toa particular orientation that it is unlikely that the user would placethe device in accidentally. Thus, in the case of a watch it may be movedto a horizontal orientation when it is close to the further device.

In some cases the envoy device may be connected to the further device bya physical link such as being plugged in to it using a cable and thismay be the manner in which the predetermined physical proximity isdetected.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a set of devicescomprising said envoy device according to a first aspect of the presentinvention and said further device, said further device comprising atleast one device located or embedded in the users environment.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method of performingtransactions between two devices located physically close to each othercomprising the steps of:

detecting two devices within a predetermined physical proximity of eachother;

triggering initiation of a transaction between said two devices inresponse to detecting said predetermined physical proximity;

in response to detecting said transaction completing displaying anobject related to said transaction, that it is determined said user maywish to select to initiate a subsequent action on one of said devices.

A fourth aspect of the present of the present invention provides anenvoy means for performing a transaction with a further device, saidenvoy means comprising:

a data storing means;

a processing means;

communication means for communicating with said further means; and

a displaying means;

said envoy means being for responding to detection of said further meansbeing within a predetermined physical proximity to trigger initiation ofa transaction between said envoy means and said further means; and inresponse to said transaction completing displaying an object related tosaid transaction that it is determined said user may wish to select toinitiate a subsequent action.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments which is to be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows an envoy device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically shows an envoy device and a further deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 schematically shows an envoy device and a further deviceaccording to a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a further device having access to theinternet;

FIG. 5a schematically shows the opening of a lock by a person wearing anenvoy device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5b shows the display screen on the envoy device of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 5c shows an envoy device worn by a user providing an automaticlogin to a notebook;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the display and otherfeatures of an envoy device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 shows the circuitry inside an envoy device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows some example codas that are displayed following completionof a transaction according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method according toone technique; and

FIG. 10 shows steps in a method according to a further technique.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an envoy device 10 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Envoy device 10 has a data store 12 which stores dataincluding permissions such as keys to locks, passwords to computingdevices and information data regarding the owner of the device. There isalso communication circuitry 14 including a near field communicatingdevice 16 and a Bluetooth communicating device 18. A processor 20controls these devices and also communicates with the display 22 fordisplaying information to the user.

This envoy device 10 is a portable device that is carried by the userand is used to interact with other devices that are found within theuser's environment. These may be embedded devices located within variousobjects such as locks within doors, locks within cars including ignitionlocks or access barriers to train stations. They may also be otherdevices that can be controlled such as light switches, power outlets,computing devise that require a login ID or thermostats in heatingdevices. The envoy device 10 is configured to be able to communicatewith these devices and to perform transactions with them such that theyare controlled by the user in a straightforward manner using the envoydevice. Furthermore, where security is an issue the secure permissionsmay be stored within the envoy device and transmitted automatically tothe further device such that the appropriate access is granted to theuser without the need for the user to memorise any passwords.

FIG. 1 also shows clock 23 that provides an indication of a currenttime. In some embodiments the envoy device is a watch and thus it needsto display the current time. The time may also be used by processor 20to determine the validity of certain permissions stored within datastore 12. In this regard, some of the permissions may have a lifetimeassociated with them such that they expire at a certain time. Having aclock 23 within the envoy device enables these permissions to be managedsuch that when they expire they can be deleted or marked as currentlyinvalid. This allows permissions to be granted to such devices with alimited lifetime, for example permission to access a particular buildinghaving a lifetime of 12 hours may be granted to someone. This may beuseful as a key to a hotel room for example. Clock 23 is a reliableclock which communicates with a radio clock intermittently to update itstime.

FIG. 2 shows envoy device 10 communicating with a further device 30.Envoy device 10 is similar to the envoy device shown in FIG. 1 butfurther has a pattern detector 24 for detecting a pattern of movement ofthe envoy device with respect to the further device 30. In this regard,in some cases the envoy device is configured to automatically initiate atransaction with the further device simply when it is detected to bewithin a predetermined distance of that further device. In other casesthe requirement to initiate the transaction may be that it is within apredetermined distance and it performs a predetermined pattern ofmovement. The pattern detector 24 is for detecting that pattern ofmovement.

In this regard, it may be advantageous if transactions are onlyinitiated with the intent of the user such that it is not sufficient forthe envoy device simply to pass within a predetermined distance of thefurther device but a particular pattern of movement must also bedetected which indicates the intent of the user to interact with thedevice. The type of movement is selected not to be the sort of movementthat might happen accidentally. In this way, the transaction can bedeliberately started by the user in a simple straightforward manner. Apattern of movement may be simply moving the device towards the furtherdevice and away again in what is termed a “bump” movement.

FIG. 2 also shows further device 30 that also has communicationcircuitry 32 and a data store 34 for storing various information and forstoring authentication keys for the communication circuitry. It also hasfurther circuitry 36, that may be an actuator be for actuating a lockingdevice for example or it may have some switching device for turning onor off a heater, a power outlet, a light switch or some other suchcontrollable device.

FIG. 3 shows a further example of an envoy device 10 and further device30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Envoy device 10has a processor 20 for controlling the operations of the envoy device, aperformance monitor 25 which monitors the operating conditions of theenvoy device and determines the battery 41 capacity and the currentoperating states of the communication devices 16 and 17. The device alsohas data store 12 for storing data such as access keys for communicationlinks and various permissions such as keys to locking devices and traveltickets that the envoy device provides access to.

There is also a display 22 of limited size for displaying in this case asingle icon or a few lines of text. There is a battery 41 which is anextremely long life battery and which is supplemented by solar cells 42.There is also a user input device 43 for receiving user inputs. In thisregard, the user may select an item on the display or may scroll throughthe display such that a list of selectable items are shown one after theother.

There is also a clock device 23 which receives signals from a GPS device17 within communication circuitry 14. These signals are used to updatethe clock periodically to ensure that it has the correct time. This isimportant as the clock is used to determine when some of the permissionsstored in data store 12 expire.

Envoy device 10 is configured to communicate with further device 30 whenit is placed in close physical proximity to it. The further device 30has communicating circuitry 32 including a near field communicatingdevice and a Bluetooth® communicating device. There is also a data store50 and a processor 55.

When envoy device 10 is placed in close physical proximity to furtherdevice 30 then a near field communication link is set up between the twodevices and they exchange information with each other proactivelyregarding what other communication links they have access to and anyaccess keys to these communication links. Thus, in this case they willboth transmit to the other one that they have a Bluetooth communicationlink and they will transmit the keys that are required to access eachother via that link. A transaction request will then be transmitted fromenvoy device 10 to the further device 30 across the near fieldcommunication link and this transaction will be initiated.

Now it may be that this transaction takes some time to complete and thatduring this time the user moves out of range of the near fieldcommunication link such that the transaction cannot complete across thislink. In such a case, processor 20 will look at the received informationand determine that there is a Bluetooth® link available to which it hasthe access key. It will then transmit a signal requesting access to thatBluetooth® communication link and the link will be made between the twodevices as they both carry each other's authentication keys. Thetransaction can then complete across the Bluetooth® link without theuser having to move back into close proximity to the further device.

In other embodiments, rather than the transaction automatically startingusing the near field communication link it may be that the processor 20controls which link to use using information from the performancemonitor 25. In this regard, the performance monitor 25 will monitorcurrent operating conditions of envoy device 10 and depending on thetransaction will select the appropriate link for the transaction to beperformed via. Thus, it may be that it determines that the Bluetooth®communication circuitry is already active and communicating with adevice. In this case, it may not require much additional energy to usethis Bluetooth® communication link to communicate with the furtherdevice and this may in fact be more energy efficient that continuing tokeep the near field communication channel active. Thus, it may decide toperform the transaction using the Bluetooth® link. In other cases, itmay determine that the Bluetooth® communication circuitry is not activeand it will be more energy efficient to maintain the near fieldcommunication link where possible and to complete the transaction usingthis.

In some cases, the further device communicated with may not have aBluetooth link and thus, it may be that the near field communicationlink is the only link that can be used and when the envoy device andfurther device are no longer connected due to the envoy device movingout of range of the near field communication link then a signal will besent to the user via the display 22 that the transaction cannot becompleted and that the user should move back into proximity with thefurther device such that it can complete the transaction.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment where further device 30 has aninternet connection 37. In this embodiment when the initial link is setup between the devices using the near field communication link anddetails of the various communication links are passed between the twodevices the further device 30 also advertises its capabilities to theenvoy device 10 and in this case it advertises that it has a link to theinternet by internet link 37. The envoy device can then store thisinformation in its data store and if it has pending intents to accessthe internet it can connect to the internet via the further device andcan complete these intents. It can also display to the user that theinternet is available if the user wishes to input a new intent. In thisregard, intents are transactions that the user has indicated he wishesto perform but which have not yet been performed due to lack ofavailability of resources to perform these transactions or which havenot yet completed. These are stored within the device as pending intentsand on forming a communication link with a further device it isdetermined whether the further device can process these intents andwhere it can the transactions are initiated.

FIG. 5a shows an example of the envoy device being worn by a user as awatch device. In this case the further device 30 is located within adoor locking mechanism and the touching of the door handle by the userwhen wearing the envoy device 10 indicates that the envoy device iswithin the predetermined physical proximity of the further device andtriggers initiation of a transaction. In this regard, the envoy device10 detects the touching by the user of the door handle 40 when signalsfrom the envoy device 10 pass through the body of the user to thecommunicating device 32 of the further device and are received and aresponse is sent from the communicating device 32.

The envoy device 10 and further device 32 exchange information and inparticular, the envoy device 10 transmits a permission to the furtherdevice 30 indicating that it has a stored key to that particular lockingdevice and in response to receiving this the actuating device 36 withinthe locking mechanism drives the blocking bar 38 such that the lockingmechanism 39 is released. In this way, the touching by the user of thehandle 40 when wearing the envoy device 10 as a watch is sufficient tofree the lock and allow access to the room. Although, in this embodimentthe watch is shown as being on the hand that touches the door handle itis sufficient that the user is wearing the device on any part of thebody when one part of the body touches the door handle.

Once the lock has been released the display 22 on the envoy device 10displays a “coda” showing a set of keys related to this locking device.This is shown for 15 seconds after use of the lock and enables the userto select this set of keys and perform actions with them in astraightforward manner.

FIG. 5b shows examples of the “codas” displayed by the watch followingthe user touching the door and the access transaction completing. Theseillustrate the various selections that it is considered the user islikely to require.

Thus, following completion of the transaction a coda illustrating a setof keys is displayed and the user can select the displayed coda whichrelates to the set of keys and a display illustrating access and controlis then provided so that he can then select either access which bringsup the access key which he may want perhaps to select send to his friendor control which brings up a display of a control key which has furtherdifferent permissions. Thus, he may select a control key that wouldallow the door to remain unlocked for perhaps the next 30 minutes.

If he had selected an access key to send to a friend then this would sitas a pending intent on his envoy device until the envoy device was ableto connect with the internet whereupon the key would be sent via thecloud to his friend and the transaction would complete.

FIG. 5C shows a further example of an envoy device being worn by a user.In this case the further device is a notepad device, and the envoydevice has permissions stored within it for logging on to the notepaddevice and also for accessing various secure sites accessible via thenotepad device. Thus, on detecting the notepad device in proximity toit, the envoy device will initiate communication via a near fieldcommunication link and the devices will proactively transfer details ofany other communication links that they have access to. The envoy devicewill detect that it has permissions stored relating to the notepaddevice and will initiate a log on to that notepad device. In this waysimply by placing the envoy device close to the notepad the user willautomatically be logged on to this. The envoy device may then displayautomatic log on transactions to various sites accessible via thenotepad that the user can select if he wishes to access these sites.Again as all the login information is stored within the envoy device thelogin can be performed automatically without the need for the user toremember the passwords or indeed perform any further actions.

FIG. 6 shows an envoy device 10 in the form of a watch having a displaythat displays the time and date. A fingerprint detector is provided forsecurity reasons such that a user can be securely identified, antennaplacements where the antennas are hidden to transmit both near field andsome other communication perhaps Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® from an LEDindicator room and some different buttons and sliders for use by theuser who may wish to scroll between different displays.

FIG. 7 shows envoy device 10 in more detail with communication circuitry14 having various communication capabilities, data store 12 having asecure portion 13 for storing authentication keys and other secure dataand a non-secure portion 15, a central processor 20, user inputs 21 anduser outputs 22 which are in the forms of buzzers, a vibra motor and anLCD display. There is also power management circuitry 27 for determiningthe capacity of the battery 27 a and for selecting things such as aparticular communication link in dependence upon the current power usageand requirements. There is also a solar cell 27 b for recharging thelithium-ion battery 27 a.

In this case there is also finger print scanner 29 for securelyidentifying the user.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a coda which is displayed following atransaction, in this case the user has just received a car key from acar rental company. This is the screen shown after the initialiconographic display, which is displayed after the user has scrolleddown or interacted in some way with the device. These are related to thetransaction that has just completed and represent transactions that itis predicted a user may wish to select next, such that this selection ismade easier. A list of previously displayed codas is also available tothe user via a few user inputs.

In this example, the previous transaction that has just completed isshown at the top and then there a list of items displayed that areassociated with the previous transaction and that it is predicted that auser may wish to use next. Thus, there is a “see details” options whichallows one to see details of the car, a “share key” options which allowsone to provide the key to someone else, a co-driver perhaps and a “seeall keys” which allows one to access all keys that are currentlyavailable via the device.

The items shown are those associated with the previous transaction andthat it is likely that user may wish to select next. This list of itemsmay be updated using a learning process such that if following aparticular transaction a user is found to often perform a certain othertransaction that is not currently on the list, then this may be added tothe list in place of an item that is not usually selected. Alternativelythe list may be statically generated and the device may always show thesame list of items associated with the completed transaction and that itis predicted that a user may select next.

FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method forinitiating a transaction with a local further device. Thus initially theenvoy device determines whether there is a further device within apredetermined distance. It may do this by determining whether a furtherdevice is plugged into it or determining when it is in near fieldcommunication with a further device or determining when a user wearingthe envoy device has touched the further device. In some cases there maybe an additional step performed at this point of detecting whether theenvoy device has performed a predetermined pattern of movement whenwithin the predetermined distance.

If it determines that the device is within the predetermined distance(and if required that the predetermined pattern of motion has beendetected), it is then determined if there is a pending intent to performa transaction with the further device. If there is then that transactionis initiated. If there isn't then it is determined if there is a pendingpermission related to the further device. If there isn't then notransaction is initiated and the envoy device returns to determiningagain if there is a further device within the predetermined distance.

If there is a pending permission relating to the further device then atransaction is started with that further device that relates to thispermission. When it is determined that the transaction has completedthen a coda is displayed which relates to the transaction and isgenerally a transaction that it is predicted the user may wish to selectnext.

FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram illustrating steps in a method forestablishing communication with a local further device. There is aninitial step of detecting whether the further device is within apredetermined distance of the envoy device. If a further device isdetected within this distance then communication with the further deviceis established using a local near field communication link. Informationis then sent from the further device to the envoy device regarding anyfurther communication links that the further device has access to andinformation is sent from the envoy device to the further deviceindicating information regarding any other communication links that theenvoy device has access to. A transaction is then commenced with thefurther device using the near field communication link.

If the envoy device moves out of range of the near field link, then itis determined if there is another link available. If not a warning isdisplayed to the user indicating that he transaction cannot complete andthe user should move back into range of the further device. If there isa further link then communication is established across this link usinginformation transmitted between the devices using the near field linkand the transaction is completed.

In some embodiments, rather than commencing the transaction with thefurther device using the local near field communication link acommunication link is selected in dependence upon the information from aperformance monitor which prioritises the links and a link is selectedto commence the transaction with that has the highest priority of theavailable links. In this case generally the transaction is completedusing this link unless the link becomes unavailable for some reason orthe performance monitor determines that the current operating conditionsof the device is such that this link no longer has a higher prioritythan other available links.

Although illustrative embodiments have been described in detail hereinwith reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood thatthe claims are not limited to those precise embodiments, and thatvarious changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilledin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims. For example, various combinations of the features of thefollowing dependent claims could be made with the features of theindependent claims.

We claim:
 1. An envoy device configured to perform a transaction with aplurality of different types of further devices, said envoy devicecomprising: a data store; a processor; a communication circuitry forcommunicating with said plurality of different types of further devices;and a display; said processor being configured to detect one of saidplurality of different types of further devices being within apredetermined physical proximity to said envoy device and to performdifferent transactions with said different types of further devices,said detection automatically triggering said processor to initiate atransaction between said envoy device and said one of said plurality ofdifferent types of further devices; and in response to said transactioncompleting, said processor being configured to display, on said display,at least one object related to said transaction that it is determined auser may wish to select to initiate a subsequent action on said envoydevice, wherein said envoy device is configured to be worn by said user.2. An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein said processor isconfigured to detect one of said plurality of different types of furtherdevices being within the predetermined physical proximity to said envoydevice and at least one further condition, said detection of said one ofsaid plurality of different types of further devices being within thepredetermined physical proximity to said envoy device and said at leastone further condition automatically triggering said processor toinitiate said transaction between said envoy device and said one of saidplurality of different types of further devices.
 3. An envoy deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein said at least one further conditioncomprises a stored permission within said data store relating to saidone of said plurality of different types of further devices, or apending intent to perform a transaction with said one of said pluralityof different types of further devices.
 4. An envoy device according toclaim 1, wherein said processor is configured to display a plurality ofobjects related to said transaction in response to a user operation. 5.An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein said envoy device is aportable device, and said display is configured to display fewer than 10lines of text or 10 icons.
 6. An envoy device according to claim 1,wherein said processor is configured to display said at least one objectrelated to said transaction for a predetermined time after completion ofsaid transaction and then to revert to one of a default display and adisplay that was displayed prior to said transaction being initiated. 7.An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein said envoy device is awatch and displays a time as said default display.
 8. An envoy deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to detectsaid predetermined physical proximity of said one of said plurality ofdifferent types of further devices in response to said user touchingsaid one of said plurality of different types of further devices.
 9. Anenvoy device according to claim 1, wherein said transaction comprisesuse of a permission stored within said envoy device, said at least onedisplayed related object relating to said permission.
 10. An envoydevice according to claim 9, wherein said envoy device comprises aclock, said processor being configured to process permissions having avalid lifetime and to determine when said permissions with said validlifetime have expired in dependence upon a value of said clock.
 11. Anenvoy device according to claim 9, wherein said permission comprises atleast one of a travel ticket, a key configured to provide access to alocation, access to a thermostat, access to control of a power outletand a representation of money.
 12. An envoy device according to claim 9,wherein said permission comprises a key and said one of said pluralityof different types of further devices comprises a lock, said at leastone displayed related object comprising a set of keys stored within saidenvoy device, said set of keys comprising said key and further keysrelated to said key and having different access permissions.
 13. Anenvoy device according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said key andsaid further keys is a control key, said control key being configured toperform at least one of: open said lock and to keep said lock open for apredetermined length of time, and open and access diagnostic features ina car.
 14. An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein said processoris configured to display, on said display, a list of said most recentlydisplayed related objects in response to a user selection.
 15. An envoydevice according to claim 1, wherein said communication circuitrycomprises a near field communicator and said processor is configured todetect said predetermined physical proximity with said one of saidplurality of different types of further devices by establishing nearfield communication between said envoy device and said one of saidplurality of different types of further device.
 16. An envoy deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to detectsaid predetermined physical proximity with said one of said plurality ofdifferent types of further device in response to bringing said envoydevice within 5 cms of said one of said plurality of different types offurther device.
 17. An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein saidprocessor is configured to detect said predetermined physical proximitywith said one of said plurality of different types of further devices inresponse to detecting said envoy device being moved in a predeterminedpattern within a predetermined distance of said one of said plurality ofdifferent types of further devices.
 18. An envoy device according toclaim 17, wherein said predetermined pattern comprises said envoy devicemoving towards and then away from said one of said plurality ofdifferent types of further devices within a predetermined period oftime.
 19. An envoy device according to claim 17, wherein saidpredetermined pattern comprises said envoy device being moved to aparticular orientation.
 20. An envoy device according to claim 1,wherein said processor is configured to detect said predeterminedphysical proximity with said one of said plurality of different types offurther devices by being connected to said one of said plurality ofdifferent types of further devices by a physical link.
 21. A set ofdevices comprising said envoy device according to claim 1, and said oneof said plurality of different types of further devices, said one ofsaid plurality of different types of further devices comprising at leastone device located or embedded in a users environment.
 22. A method ofperforming transactions between an envoy device and a plurality ofdifferent types of further devices located physically close to eachother, the method comprising the steps of: detecting said envoy deviceand one of said plurality of different types of further devices beingwithin a predetermined physical proximity of each other, said envoydevice capable of performing different transactions with said differenttypes of further devices; said detection automatically triggeringinitiation of a transaction between said envoy device and said one ofsaid plurality of different types of further devices; in response todetecting said transaction completing displaying, on said display, atleast one object related to said transaction, that it is determined auser may wish to select to initiate a subsequent action on said envoydevice, wherein said envoy device is worn by said user.
 23. An envoymeans for performing a transaction with a plurality of different typesof further means, said envoy means comprising: means for storing data;means for processing data; means for communicating with said pluralityof different types of further means; and means for displaying data; saidmeans for processing being for detecting one of said plurality ofdifferent types of further means being within a predetermined physicalproximity to said envoy means and for performing different transactionswith said different types of further devices, said detectingautomatically triggering said processing means to initiate a transactionbetween said envoy means and said one of said plurality of differenttypes of further means; and in response to said transaction completing,said means for processing is configured to display, on said means fordisplaying, at least one object related to said transaction that it isdetermined a user may wish to select to initiate a subsequent action onsaid envoy means, wherein said envoy means is configured to be worn bythe user.